Abstract

Obesity and its associated secondary complications are active areas of investigation in search of effective treatments. As a result of this intensified research numerous differences between males and females at all levels of metabolic control have come to the forefront. These differences include not only the amount and distribution of adipose tissue, but also differences in its metabolic capacity and functions between the sexes. Here, we review some of the recent advances in our understanding of these dimorphisms and emphasize the fact that these differences between males and females must be taken into consideration in hopes of obtaining successful treatments for both sexes.

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Figure 1. Schematic summary of the differences between adipose tissue from males and females discussed in this review. The genetic make-up and basal gene expression of adipose tissue differs between the sexes. This, in addition to diverse signals and inputs to adipose tissue that differ between males and females, results in differences in the quantity and distribution of adipose tissue, as well as its responses and outputs.